VOCATIONS

servant of god Seminarian frank parater

October 10, 1897-February 7, 1920

Francis Joseph Parater was born into a devout
Catholic family on October 10, 1897, in the city of Richmond, Virginia.
His parents were Captain Francis Joseph Parater, Sr. and his sec ond
wife, Mary Raymond. Francis Sr.'s first wife died as did several
children she gave birth to by him. Mary Raymond was raised as a
devout Episcopalian and communicant at Saint John's Episcopal Church on
Church Hill (where Patrick Henry made his famous speech). Since, at
the time of her marriage, she agreed to raise any children born to them
as Catholics, she decided she could do that best by becoming Catholic
herself.

Frank Jr. was baptized at Saint Patrick's Church on Church Hill, the highest
of Richmond's seven hills. He grew up in a close knit family and in
the large Catholic Community that resided in the Church Hill
neighborhood at the time. Frank's father was a city employee who cared
for the park across from their very modest home. He also took care of
the garden at the Monastery of the Visitation located two blocks from
their home. From their home Frank could easily walk to the monastery
for daily Mass where he served as an altar boy from the day of his
first communion until he left Richmond for college.

Frank
was educated at the Xaverian
Brother's School (currently Saint Patrick's School) and at Benedictine
High School in Richmond. He graduated in 1917, top in his class and
valedictorian. In his late teens, Frank became very active in the Boy
Scouts of America. His involvement was so exemplary that he was asked
to serve
in roles of leadership even at his young age. As a scout, he
achieved the rank of Eagle. A remarkable young man, Frank was known
for his ideals and practical judgment. At a time when the Catholic
faith was not considered to be a social asset, Frank was well thought
of by Catholics and non-Catholics alike. In fact, newspaper accounts
note his achievements, his natural talents and his gifts of heart and
mind. His vocation decision to study for the priesthood, his journey to
Rome, his untimely death and his Last Will and Testament received
press coverage far beyond what one might have expected for the times.

In 1917, Frank began studies for the priesthood at
Belmont Abbey Seminary College in North Carolina. He continued to lead a
very devout life as is detailed in the journal he kept while there.
His stated goal was: "To strive by every possible means to become a pure
and worthy priest, an alterus Christus ." During this period, he
continued to go to Mass and receive Holy Communion daily, prayed the
Rosary and Memorare daily, and went to confession weekly in accord with
a Rule of Life he had drawn up for himself. He had an abiding sense
that "…the Sacred Heart never fails those that love Him." The
Benedictine Fathers made him aware of the spirituality of the Little
Flower, Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, O.C.D. While at college
seminary, Frank madethe decision to study for the diocesan priesthood.
This decision was made with the assistance of his spiritual director
and after discussions with the Right Reverend Denis J. O'Connell, D.D.,
Bishop of Richmond. Frank decided that there was such a great need for
priestly ministry in his native Virginia that he would forego his
desire for monastic life in favor of direct service to the people of
God.

During the summers, while at Belmont Seminary College, he was active in the
Knights of Columbus summer wartime activities for youth and was
director of the summer camp for the Boy Scouts of America. The leaders
of the Scouts saw such virtue and ideals in Frank that they wanted him
to serve as a summer camp director supervising those who were his
seniors. He was considered a "four-ply scout", exceptional in every
way. In the fall of 1919, Bishop O'Connell, who had been a former
Rector of the Pontifical North American College in Rome, sent Frank to
study at the North American College. Frank was instantly popular among
his fellow
seminarians and displayed a warm sense of humor and cheer as
he continued to deepen his spiritual life. In December he wrote an Act
of Oblation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus which was sealed and marked
to be read only in the event of his death. Frank expressed his
motivation in making his offering in this way:

I
have nothing to leave or to give but my life and this I have
consecrated to the Sacred Heart to be used as He wills...This is what I
live for and in case of death what I die for. Since my childhood, I have
wanted to die for God and my neighbor. Shall I have this grace? I do
not know, but if I go on living, I shall live for this same purpose;
every action of my life here is offered to God for the spread and
success of the Catholic Church in Virginia. I shall be of more service
to my diocese in Heaven than I can ever be on earth.

In
late January 1920, Frank Parater contracted rheumatism that developed
into rheumatic fever causing him tremendous suffering. He was taken to
the hospital of the Blue Nuns on January 27th. The spiritual director
of the college, Father Mahoney, explained to Frank that his illness was
grave, as he administered Last Rites. Frank wished to get out of bed
and kneel on the floor to receive Holy Communion as Viaticum, but was
prevented from doing so. With great devotion, and unafraid of death, he
knelt on the bed and made his last Holy Communion. On February 6,
Monsignor Charles A. O'Hern, rector of the college, offered the Mass of the Sacred Heart for Frank. Frank Parater died the following day.
Less than three months after his arrival in Rome this promising young
seminarian was buried in the College Mausoleum at Campo Verano. His Act
of Oblation was later discovered in his room when a fellow seminarian,
Frank Byrne of the Diocese of Richmond, was tasked with
gathering Frank’s
personal belongings. The Act of Oblation caught the attention of Pope
Benedict XV, who had it published in the Vatican’s Newspaper,
L’Osservatore Romano, and also of Pope Pius XI who “had it copied for
his own edification.”

In 1920, both Richmond
newspapers and Bishop O'Connell praised the virtues of the deceased
seminarian, the later holding him up as a model for all seminarians.
Decades later in the 1960's, a subsequent Richmond Bishop who had been a
fellow student of Frank’s, the Most Reverend John Joyce Russell named a
summer camp in honor of Frank
Parater. Bishop Russell would later
procure various items from Frank’ family to be kept in the diocesan
archives.

In
2001, the Most Reverend Walter F. Sullivan having received
authorization from the Holy See, initiated the cause of canonization
for Frank Parater by establishing a Tribunal to examine the holiness of
his life. Father J. Scott Duarte, J.C.D., a priest of the
Diocese of
Richmond, is the present Postulator for the canonization cause of the
Servant of God, Seminarian Francis J. Parater.

Loving
Father, Your servant, Frank Parater, sought perfection as a student,
scout, and seminarian. He offered himself to You completely through the
Sacred Heart of Your beloved Son, Jesus. Through the intercession of
Frank Parater, may young people answer Your call to follow Jesus as
priests and religious. Grant the favors I seek, so that Your Church may
recognize his holiness and proclaim him Blessed. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen